A revealing new biography on billionaire James Packer has lifted the lid on his mental health battles, personal life, business concerns and new search for happiness. Picture: AAPSource:AAP

AFTER a tumultuous two years that included a messy business settlement with his sister, a whirlwind relationship with Mariah Carey and a very public emotional breakdown, billionaire James Packer is back from the brink.

And the Australian casino boss credits the new woman in his life with saving him from himself.

He revealed he has no intention of returning to Sydney until the completion and launch of the Crown Casino project at Barangaroo in 2020.

Friends are pleased with the positive impact Lim has had on Packer, particularly in the aftermath of his very public breakdown in March this year, which saw him hospitalised.There is another figure playing a big part in his life that some are unconvinced about, though.

PICKING UP THE PIECES

Packer has the maharishi spiritual guru Thom Knoles on speed dial to provide him with guidance and alternative therapies to treat his depression.

Knoles, who describes himself as pre-eminent master-teacher of Vedic Meditation, was born to American parents in post-war Germany in the 1950s.

“In addition to a public client base of tens of thousands of personally-taught students, he’s taught meditation to, and consulted to, the heads of many major Hollywood studios, several award-winning film industry leaders, two heads of state, and one Nobel Peace prize laureate,” his website states.

Packer considers the top-dollar guru a friend but admitted their relationship was first and foremost a “commercial one”.

“He believes in me. He tries to help me manage my emotions and find more happiness … and truly holy men aren’t bought by many.”

James Packer’s tumultuous relationship with pop star Mariah Carey took a significant toll on the billionaire. Picture: PhotopixSource:Getty Images

The book also reveals that in the final months of his relationship with Carey, Packer hit a dangerous low and called on Chanel Seven chairman Kerry Stokes for help.

Stokes met him in Aspen and took charge of his personal affairs, including pushing back on Carey and her diva demands.

“It was easy for me to say, ‘No, you are not spending $250,000 on a wedding dress. No you are not moving this here. You are not doing that’,” Stokes said.

As well as trouble brewing in the relationship, Packer was “panic-stricken” about a difficult settlement with his sister Gretel.

After a falling out, the siblings were carving up the empire that in the end saw her and her children receive a reported $1.5 billion.

The new biography about James Packer contains a number of stunning revelations. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

But as negotiations wore on in mid-2016, Packer’s debt was growing and the Crown business was wobbly.

Stokes arranged for a broken Packer to fly on his private jet to Israel, to bunker down with a close friend and get some much-needed space. Then the media boss sent the plane for maintenance so Packer couldn’t leave too quickly.

“I certainly incurred the wrath at the time of his fiancee and her agent,” Stokes revealed

“They were threatening to go to the police for me kidnapping James. There were some strong words said. They wanted to charter a plane from Las Vegas to Israel, and I wouldn’t approve it. I was accused of separating the lovebirds.

“I said I was prepared to pay two economy fares to Israel if that was helpful.”

James Packer has lived his life in the shadow of his media mogul father Kerry.Source:News Corp Australia

While Kitney writes that the last comment was somewhat tongue in cheek, referring to the mammoth and controversial Barangaroo project, it’s clear that the stress has weighed heavily on Packer.

A number of prominent business figures, associates and friends spoke for the book, reflecting on the “shadow” of Packer’s father that still looms over him.

“For him losing money is failure. I think he does fear failure. I actually think that if James Packer had started with nothing, he would be one of the people who would have made a fortune by taking and embracing new technologies,” David Gonski said.

“He has the guts to invest in new things and the capacity to see them into the future. Starting with a capital base may actually be more a negative than a positive, because you always feel the need to preserve it.”

James Packer's new $80 million Los Angeles mansion will be his permanent base. Picture: Joe Bryant.Source:Supplied

And it’s clear he is still competing with his late father when it comes to the success of the Packer empire.

He is able to rattle off the net worth and debt of the family’s fortune at the time of his father’s death, and at any current moment, to prove that he is making progress.

The Price of Fortune: The Untold Story of Being James Packer is on sale now.